The Principles of Nature (1800-1801) by Elihu Palmer: Vitalism, Morality, and Political Theory

• Grant number: 24/22117-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - Modern and Contemporary History
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Gomes de Carvalho
• Grantee: Fernando Cyrillo Júnior
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to examine Principles of Nature (1800-1801) by Elihu Palmer, a deist and free-thinker renowned for his public speeches. In this work, Palmer advocates for religious freedom and introduces a new moral perspective rooted in a system of materialist vitalism, challenging the core principles of revealed religions. While shedding light on an author rarely explored in our country, this study also seeks to revisit established scholarship, such as Kristen Fischer's work, which emphasizes the eccentricity of Palmer's ideas without delving deeply into Principles of Nature. The research approaches Palmer through the lens of the scientific and moral complexities of his time, moving beyond the binary view of radical versus moderate Enlightenment, as framed by Jonathan Israel, one of the foremost scholars to highlight Palmer's role in the Age of Enlightenment. Using linguistic contextualism, the study explores how Principles of Nature engages with the post-independence debates in the United States, drawing on key influences such as Isaac Ledyard's materialism, Thomas Paine's deism, and John Stewart's vitalism-central threads in the North American Enlightenment. Ultimately, this research aims to provide a nuanced perspective on contemporary discussions about religious and political freedom, while deepening our understanding of Palmer's work and its broader significance.